An additional concern is that bicycle riders travel with very little protection, usually just a helmet. Given the vulnerability of riders, it is not surprising that the injuries that result from bicycle accidents can be severe, even fatal. Bicycle riders are a common site in health and environment-conscious Seattle. Every day in Bellevue, Ballard, Seattle, Kirkland, and other surrounding cities, bicyclists make their daily commute right alongside motor vehicles. This close proximity means that auto and bicycle accidents are, unfortunately, a common occurrence in King county.

The most common reasons for these accidents are;

Motorists driving in the bike lane

Drivers failing to see a bicycle when turning

People running red lights or speeding

Motorists failing to yield to bicycles in crosswalks

Defective bicycle components

Defective roadway conditions

When a bicycle is involved in an accident, it is easy for police and the vehicle driver to blame the bicyclist. In reality, it is far more common for the motorist to be at fault in the accident.

At The Jones Firm, Bellevue-based bicycle and auto accident attorney Dax Jones does everything in his power to make victims feel confident that their bicycle accident cases are being handled professionally. He is able to ferret out the facts that the injured individual often has difficulty finding, ensuring that an accurate and truthful story is revealed so that the responsible party is held accountable for the damages inflicted.

He evaluates every detail, hires experts, obtains medical records and photos, interviews witnesses and goes to the scene of the accident. He is persistent in his pursuit of full compensation for his clients.

Possible Injuries Due to Bicycle and Auto Accidents

The Jones Firm is experienced in helping injured bicyclists receive their rightful compensation for a variety of injuries. Some of these include;

Brain injuries

Injuries to the head

Spinal injuries

Back injuries

Broken limbs

Severed limbs

Road rash

Infections due to injuries

Death

What are my options if I’m an injured bicyclist?

Regardless of common belief, individuals injured in a bicycle-auto accident have several options to pursue for a personal injury claim. It is important to note that the bicyclists that are at-fault in the accident will not be eligible for medical compensation, however.

Here is a quick overview of the possible scenarios for pedestrians injured in the Seattle area:

Scenario 1: The driver of the car that caused the accident has PIP coverage on his car insurance policy:

If the driver that has hit the bicyclist is at fault in the accident and has an insurance plan with personal injury protection coverage (PIP), the injured rider will be able to access that policy for coverage of their medical costs and other monetary losses that were incurred from the accident.

Scenario 2: The at-fault driver does not have PIP coverage on his car insurance policy, but the bicyclist has uninsured motorist coverage or PIP through their own car insurance.

If the driver doesn’t have PIP coverage under their insurance plan, then the bicyclist will be able to access uninsured motorist coverage or PIP coverage through their own policy, if they had chosen to elect it as part of their insurance policy. This policy will then provide them with the medical coverage and compensation for general and special damages.

Scenario 3: Neither party has the necessary elective coverages on their car insurance policy, but the bicyclist has health insurance.

If the injured bicyclist did not elect to have uninsured motorist coverage or PIP on their car insurance policy, and the driver of the motor vehicle does not have PIP coverage, then each party will have to turn to their own health insurance to cover their medical treatments.

Scenario 4: The driver does not have PIP coverage, and you do not have uninsured motorist coverage or health insurance coverage.

Both PIP and uninsured motorist coverage are elective options for an insurance policy. If the driver of the vehicle did not elect for PIP coverage on their car insurance policy, and the injured bicyclist does not have uninsured motorist coverage or health insurance coverage, they will, unfortunately, have to cover the medical treatments out of their own pocket. There will be no party with whom they may be able to file a personal injury claim with.

Choosing to Trust Your Personal Injury Attorney

Too many individuals fail to receive the monetary compensation that they need for recovery because of unwarranted fears and misconceptions about a personal injury claim. Some of the most frequent concerns that we hear at our law firm are one of the following:

Afraid the claims process will require too much time and energy — While this fear is quite well-warranted for individuals that are choosing to undertake the personal injury claims process on alone, individuals that choose to work with an experienced personal injury attorney can lay this concern to rest. At the Jones Firm, we handle all the legal procedures, paperwork, phone calls, and all interfacing between doctors, insurance companies, and other parties for our clients. We have found that our clients are amazed and appreciative of the ease of the personal injury claims process when working with us, and, more importantly, are almost always awarded a significantly greater monetary compensation for their injuries.

Fear of being negatively perceived for filing a personal injury claim — Individuals that are concerned that others will interpret their personal injury claim as a way to ‘finagle’ the system or extort money are often unwilling to file a claim even when their injuries quite warrant it. Still others are concerned that they will be perceived as ‘weak’, being used to biting the bullet when it comes to pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, this sentiment usually results in long term and more severe injuries or disabilities that could have otherwise been avoided. Rather than being weak or manipulative, it is prudent and wise to be thoroughly examined and treated following a personal injury due to a bicycle accident.

Fear that filing a personal injury claim will put them on the ‘watch list’ for insurance companies that will unfairly raise their rates in the future — An individual that was not at-fault in an auto-bicycle accident will not experience unfairly raised insurance rates. Individuals that had no-fault in the accident will not be penalized for its occurrence.

Obtaining the best results for injured clients:

Drawing on more than 10 years as a Bellevue pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney, Dax Jones helps victims and their family members through the ordeal that naturally follows a collision and personal injury. His mission is to remove the stress of the personal injury claims process from the injured individual, handling all the documents, investigations, and phone call on behalf of his clients so that he is able to obtain the best results possible for our clients injured in a car-bicyclist accident.

What are you waiting for?

Contact The Jones Firm online or at 206.496.0579 in Bellevue. Bicycle accident attorney and Seattle personal injury lawyer Dax Jones meets with clients wherever it is most convenient for them in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The initial consultation is free and is NOT limited to 30 minutes, as it is at most law firms.

Testimonial

Dax and his team are professional and caring and made it possible for me to focus on getting better. After I was involved in a car pedestrian accident, I was taken to the hospital with a severe concussion. Soon after I was getting 10 or more calls a day from the insurance companies. I didn’t want to deal with all the calls and I just wanted to get back to work. Dax came highly recommended by many people so we contacted him. That was the best decision we could have made. Dax was flexible in meeting with me so I didn’t miss any work, he asked good questions that got straight to the heart of the issue and immediately took everything off our plate. You have my heartfelt thanks for your assistance in this matter. Thank you so much.